Successful outcome from the Third International Riders' Public Policy Conference

[Eamonn Townsend]

Last week-end (27-29th April), over 100 representatives of riders' organisations from all around the world gathered in Pickerington (Ohio, USA) to discuss the main issues affecting motorcyclists worldwide. The Globalisation of motorcycle technical regulations and Intelligent Transport Systems were the main items on the agenda.

The International Riders' Public Policy Conference was organised for the third time by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), co-ordinated this year by its American affiliate, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), with the co-operation of the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF).

Introducing the subject of Global harmonisation of motorcycle standards, the FEMA's Acting General Secretary Bob Tomlins presented the riders' perspective. European and American senior officials Julie Abraham, of the American Safety Institute NHTSA, and Wolfgang Schneider of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enterprise, gave their contribution on the approach taken by their respective authorities. IMMA's Secretary General Nick Rogers (International Motorcycle Manufacturers' Association) briefly explained the industry's view on the matter.

The subject of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) was also covered, with legitimate concerns being expressed on the integration of motorcycles in the concept. Riders think that these systems can in any way not remove control of a vehicle from the driver, neither attack on citizens' private life.

This was followed by a presentation of the Swedish "Vision Zero" by Roger Johansson of the Swedish Traffic Safety Administration. Surprisingly, the position of the Swedish authorities seemed to have changed towards motorcycles. Mr Johansson said that motorcyclists' organisations should be fully involved in the scheme as official partners responsible of achieving the aims of Vision Zero by educating motorcyclists in order to reduce fatalities among these road users. In the light of the information received on the subject, FEMA will discuss further the matter and take a position at its next Board meeting later this month.

Road safety issues were also on the agenda, including a presentation by Federico Galliano of ACEM (European Motorcycle Industry Association) of the MAIDS project (Motorcycle Accidents In-Depth Study), the most comprehensive research which aims are to reach a clear analysis of the causes and consequences of motorcycle accidents in order to propose relevant measures to reduce injuries. Hans Hammarlund, Vice-President of the FIM's Commission for Mobility, Transport, Road Safety and Public Policy, presented an overview of the functioning of the UN's Working Party 1 dealing with road safety.

FEMA's President Erwin Renette said: "This third conference has been a success with important achievements, particularly the co-operation between the riders' organisations in the representation of motorcyclists' interests at the International level". He added: "The best chance we have of ensuring that the globally harmonised bike will be a bike that we will want to buy and ride, is through ensuring that when the representatives of the United States go to Geneva, their positions will be the same, or be very similar to, the position of the representatives of the International riders' organisations".

Prior to the Conference, discussions took place with the aim of uniting the riders' groups efforts in the creation of the "International Steering Committee" monitoring the developments of the worldwide harmonisation of motorcycle standards. AMA President Robert Rasor annouced at the Conference that AMA, FEMA and MRF have already committed to give financial support to this Committee, and expressed his hope to bring FIM to the table as well.